On a completely ordinary day in January, as I was scrolling through my social media feed, and ad for the 2019 Women’s Fest in NYC lit up my phone. Ads are usually begging you to buy something that you need, but this particular one would literally go on to change my life. After years of backpacking, biking, and making my way through various countries, talk of a travel festival had never entered my scope. But as soon as I saw “women” and “travel” in the same sentence, I was hooked.
After looking into the event more, it looked like somewhere I wanted to be – but somewhere that was outside of my budget. So I messaged the founder, Kelly Lewis, and asked if it was possible to do a work exchange. To my surprise, she answered me quickly and said that it would actually be great to have more hands to help out. I wasn’t expecting that type of response and was a little thrown off that I then had a reason to find my way from the mountains of Asheville, NC to the bustling streets of New York City.
About Women’s Travel Fest
The Women’s Travel Fest spans over a three day period. The first day offers add-on workshops (an additional price to your ticket) and a pre-party to set the mood for the rest of the gathering. I’ve created a video that shows you what my experience was like throughout the whole trip and how I joined in on the magic, despite traveling on an extremely small budget. On my first day there I nervously found my way to the pre-party at the Hotel on Rivington.
I have to admit, even after frequently traveling through various countries alone, showing up for a party where I didn’t know one person drew some heavy perspiration from my body. As I stood by the elevator waiting to climb to the 20th floor, I started chatting with another gal, who was wonderfully outgoing and sporting a beautiful red lipstick, as we stepped into the elevator together. Before the doors closed one other woman joined us and I could recognize the excitement and nervousness in her as well. As soon as we started chatting I knew that these would be my new friends who I would check in with throughout the rest of the conference. Yes, it was as easy as that!
Connect and Respect
This travel fest did not meet my expectations… at all. I often see spaces where diverse voices aren’t heard, people’s individual needs aren’t taken into consideration, and access to those spaces requires a lot of financial backing. That wasn’t the case at Women’s Travel Fest. I have to share with you a few things that made this festival so special, as I am still glowing and buzzing from the experience.
Can you call to mind that warm, comforting feeling that starts inside your belly when you feel like you’re in the right place at the right time, finally connecting people who just “get it”? Yeah, that was a constant feeling at the Women’s Travel Fest. The organizers of this event have created a personal, intimate vibe with the people that attend over the years. When new needs were brought to attention, it was easy to spot Kelly or the other main organizers and approach them. On the other hand, after the speakers were done with their thought-provoking talks or workshops, they would wait at the front of the room and not leave until they had a chance to connect with everyone that wanted to dig a little deeper with them about a topic or issue. The organizers and speakers weren’t the only ones that were open to new connection – everyone at the festival seemed to be sporting the same attitude!
The Most Inspiring Speeches I’ve Ever Heard
I’m not just saying this so that no one’s feelings get hurt, (who am I kidding, these women are sensitive but know that they are gold!) but I walked away from every single talk with a sensation of motivation igniting inside me, growing my passion for travel and helping me peruse an adventurous life. 75% of the speakers had me in tears, while 100% had laughs constantly bubbling up from my insides.
I won’t go over every single person that presented, but here are a few talks that I keep replaying over in my mind:
Day 1
2 young folks walked the boarder of the U.S. and Mexico – Two sweet souls, Tenny Ostrem and Claire Wernstedt-Lynch, spent 6 months walking from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico all while challenging their stereotypes of the border, while ultimately challenging the views of their friends and families back home. They shared their political and personal experience of this trip and highlighted how much we should be entering into sensitive situations as people who deescalate conflict, rather than escalate it.
My main takeaway: The world isn’t as scary as we believe it to be, but there are serious problems going on that we can all play a part in, for better or worse.
A panel on the diverse experiences of folks traveling as fat, LGBTQ+, or POC – Everyone who spoke on this panel truly challenged what we thought we already knew about privilege and asked us to become even more aware and considerate of other people’s needs that we might often overlook. Speakers included Annette, Chantel, Amanda, Sam, and Bianca.
My main takeaway: There will probably always be challenges that the femme, LGBTQ+, fat, and people of color face while traveling, but if we can all be aware of them and support each other, they have no choice but to improve and begin to dissolve over time.
Mickela Mallozzi, founder of the travel TV show “Bare Feet” – The talk that Mickela gave resonated with me incredibly because she has done something already that I have been dreaming of doing (and working up the bravery to do): she has taken her own unique idea and dedicated her time “figuring it out.” Mickela started as a dance teacher and then realized her love of connecting with others around the world through dance, movement, and music. She told us that she woke up out of a dead sleep in the middle of the night with a clear vision of what her travel show would look like, and then decided to figure it out. She had some major bumps (or shall I say landslides?!) in the road along the way, but she did it. And she’s doing it. My guess is that she will continue to do it and inspire us all to do what makes our hearts feel full and complete!
My main takeaway: When the feeling (that is your passion project) jets through you and doesn’t leave your body, embrace it. Follow it. And of course, just figure it out.
Day 2
Workshops on starting tours in your own backyard & travel writing tips – We all have those things that we don’t know that we needed to know until we know. You feel me? I learned so many practical skills during these talks that I can apply to expand my blog, to enhancing my travel writing pitches, to bettering the quality of my writing, and to increasing my journalism skills. Make sure to check out Jessie Festa, Rachel Friedman, and Jessica Colley Clark.
My main takeaway: Keep a detailed travel journal about all of your experiences to enhance your storytelling and writing. Follow project submission rules, deadlines, and guidelines. Have an accountability partner to check in with weekly to make sure you are completing your own goals. Add more offerings to your business or blog, such as tours or interactive events where you expand your name and reach throughout your community.
Jessica Nabongo is about to be the first black woman to travel to every single country in the world – This incredible human being is about to do something that hasn’t been done before. And YES, she is going to that country that you are worried about – she’s going to every. single. country! Follow Jessica’s journey as she teaches us about new places and cultures, how and why we need to reduce our plastic consumption right now, and how to be more mindful travelers.
My main takeaway: The world is inherently good, men continue to make solo traveling women feel like prey, and white people need to stop taking photos with African babies. Like, now. And we can’t forget –her secret to funding her trips is that she travels the world by working and saving and then going, duh!
Post Women’s Travel Fest
Although the conference is over, I’m currently sitting in the airport while the desire to travel, write, capture moments, and share them with the world is spilling out of me, reaching through my fingers and hopefully translating into this post.
The Women’s Travel Fest is a magical and seriously special place where connections are made, important conversations are started, and the desire to dive deeper into this world and all of its offerings is supported and encouraged.
Will I be there next year? You bet. I’ve now spoken at Women’s Travel Fest twice and will be back again in 2024 to talk about sustainability! Use the code UNRULY for $25 off of your ticket.
Not sure where to stay in NYC on a budget? Check out Hostel World!
Loved this! Fabulous summaries and your takeaways capture my feelings as well. Such an enlightening experience and I am so lucky to have gotten the chance to meet you! I look forward to linking up again one day 💛
Yay, thank you for reading! I am so glad that we both had the same feelings because I loved it all. I am SO HAPPY that I met you on the way up! 🙂 Can’t wait to see you somewhere else in the world.